Polyester staple fiber surged 5.19% in a single week, PTA followed with a 4.10% gain, while spandex and cotton fell 1.69% and 1.30% respectively—within the same week, the textile raw material market showed a stark contrast. According to data from Shengyi She (a commodity monitoring platform), the average weekly change in the textile sector for the 35th week of 2026 (Aug 31-Sep 4) was +1.05%, but the divergence between products is more telling than the average.
This divergence is not accidental; it points to fundamentally different supply-demand dynamics and cost transmission paths between the chemical fiber chain and natural fibers. For buyers, this means future pricing power and inventory strategies require more granularity.
Strength in Chemical Fibers: Cost and Demand Resonance
The gainers list this week was dominated by chemical fiber products. Polyester staple fiber led with a 5.19% weekly gain, rising from RMB 7,816.55/ton to RMB 8,222.50/ton, with a year-on-year increase of 26.75%. PTA followed with a 4.10% rise, soaring 38.43% year-on-year. Nylon series (POY, FDY, DTY) gained between 1.55% and 1.71%, while viscose staple fiber and rayon yarn rose about 1%.
The collective rise in chemical fibers was primarily driven by upstream raw material costs. PTA, the core raw material for polyester, rose nearly 40% year-on-year, directly increasing production costs for polyester filament and staple fiber. Meanwhile, downstream weaving and apparel enterprises began stocking ahead of the traditional peak season, providing demand support. Notably, the increase in polyester staple fiber outpaced that of PTA, indicating good downstream acceptance and smooth cost pass-through.
Nylon's rise more reflects a tight supply-demand balance. Nylon POY rose 23.44% year-on-year, with a larger weekly gain than FDY and DTY, showing that tightness in upstream chip links is gradually transmitting downstream. For buyers, this suggests nylon fabric prices may still have upward room, making early order locking safer than last-minute purchases.
Weakness in Cotton and Spandex: Respective Fundamental Pressures
In contrast to chemical fibers, cotton fell 1.30% weekly to RMB 18,180.33/ton, with year-on-year gains narrowing to 17.71%. Cotton yarn 21S and 32S rose slightly but far less than chemical fibers, reflecting caution in the cotton textile chain. Expectations of new cotton harvest approaching suppressed prices, while downstream order recovery was insufficient to drive significant yarn increases.
Spandex fell 1.69% to RMB 29,000/ton, the biggest weekly decline. Despite a 19.59% year-on-year increase, the short-term correction is evident. Spandex capacity continues to expand, while downstream weavers' acceptance of high prices is limited, leading to inventory pressure. Acrylonitrile fell 0.87% but remained 41.37% higher year-on-year; its high-level pullback may affect cost expectations for downstream products like acrylic fiber.
This divergence reminds the market that cost-push and demand-pull price increases have different sustainability. Chemical fibers' strength is supported by both cost and demand, while cotton's weakness reflects seasonal supply pressure, and spandex's correction warrants attention to overcapacity risks.
Impact of Price Divergence on the Industry Chain
The divergence is reshaping profit distribution across the chain. Chemical fiber enterprises benefit from product price increases, but raw material costs rise simultaneously, limiting actual profit improvement. Cotton textile enterprises face squeezed margins due to falling cotton prices and insufficient yarn gains. For weaving and apparel companies, differing raw material costs imply that procurement strategies must be differentiated by category.
From a foreign trade perspective, chemical fiber fabric price competitiveness may weaken due to rising raw material costs, while pure cotton products gain some cost advantage from cotton's decline. Considering exchange rate and freight changes, exporters should be flexible in quoting. Additionally, the widening price gap between chemical fibers and cotton may shift some orders from pure cotton to blends or chemical fiber fabrics—a substitution effect worth monitoring.
Practical Recommendations
For Buyers - Chemical fiber raw materials (polyester, nylon) may remain firm in the short term; purchase in batches as needed to avoid chasing highs, and consider long-term contracts with suppliers to lock in costs. - Cotton and cotton yarn prices are relatively weak; consider increasing inventory moderately, but monitor supply pressure from new cotton harvest and control purchase rhythm. - Spandex prices have corrected but remain high year-on-year; negotiate price adjustment mechanisms with suppliers or explore alternative elastic fibers.
For Foreign Trade Enterprises - Quote dynamically based on raw material cost changes; reserve room for price increases on chemical fiber products to avoid losses on long-term orders. - Monitor the price gap between cotton and chemical fibers; recommend blended or chemical fiber fabrics to clients when advantageous to win orders. - Use futures or forward contracts to hedge raw material price volatility, especially for PTA and polyester staple fiber.
The textile raw material market is at a juncture of seasonal adjustment and cost games. The sustainability of chemical fiber strength depends on real downstream demand recovery; cotton's weakness may continue depending on new crop yields and reserve policies. For every link in the chain, staying sensitive to price signals and adopting differentiated strategies will be key to navigating volatility.